Electrical gate control



May 3; 1932. 4 H, E BAKER 1,856,942

ELECTRICAL GATE. CONTROL Original Filed May 28, 1929 Patented May 3,1932 v UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE HUBERT E. BAKER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,ASSIGNOR TO THE BRADY CONVEYORS COE- PORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISELECTRICAL GATE CONTROL Original application filed May 28, 1929, SerialNo. 366,630. Divided and this application filed .Panua'my 8,

r 1931. Serial No. 507,471.

The present application is a division of my co-pending application Ser.No. 366,630, filed May 28, 1929.

My invention relates to skip loadmg apparatus and more particularly tothe gates thereof, and my main object is to deslgn the gate unit and theskip with a pecuhar relation for automatic operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide the filling means with agate whlch has no physical connection with the skip when loading thelatter, so that slight variations in the positions of the gateor skipwill not affect the filling operation.

A significant object of the invention is to provide a simple electricalcontrol for the release of the filling gate from closed to openposition. 7

. A final but nevertheless important object by reference totheaccompanying drawings,-

' Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus, in

which the sln'p is shown nearits bottom position; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the skipat the bottom position and thegate in loading position.

In the art of skip hoists the effort torender them automaticallyoperative has led to tim ing devices andother appliances of acomplicated and undependable nature. Thus, con- "ncctions have been madebetween the skip and the loading gate wherein these parts areinterdependent, and therefore hoisting elements necessarily requiredtiming for the proper cooperation with the loading appara- -tus.Needless to say, difliculties have result fully or partially loaded whenhoisted was problematical. It has therefore been my in-f tention todepart from the difiic ulties r and uncertainties of installations ofthe past and to provide an apparatus which functions free-- ly andaccomplishes the their fullest extent. I

In carrying out the invention, 5 denotes the bin or hopper from whichmaterial isto be loaded into the skip 6. The latter is of conventionaldesign and is wheeled as indicated at 7 to ride upon the inclined track8 of the hoist. The usual bail 9 and lifting cable 10 apply to the skip6. I I

The track 8 is provided with an inclined frame member 11 which extendsalongside the hopper chute 5a and carries a side rod 12 on whichispivoted the gate 13 for the chute 5a. Figure 1 shows the latter closedby the lower portion of the gate and when the gate is swung in aclockwise direction to assume a position shown in Figure 2, the lowerend of the chute 5a opens and secures com munication byway of the gatewith the skip 6, as clearly shown in Figure 2. 1

objects outlined to Under normal conditions, when the gate 18 maintainsthe chute 5a in closed position, a latch 14: retains a side pin 15 of aplate 15a mounted on the gate against departure, looking the gate inclosed position. The latch is held by a spring 16 which draws upona'connecting rod 17 linked to the latch. The latch is fulcrumed at 18 tothe frame member 11 and extends as indicated at 19 to make a connectionwith the armature-20 ofa solenoid 21 also carried by the frame member11, the function of the solenoid when energized being to draw upon thelatch withthe effect of opening the same relative to the pin 15v of theate. b The frame member-'11 carries a downward extension 22 which isfitted with a simple switch 23 which is closed by pressure upon a rollerbearing lever 24. The skip has a cam 25 opposite the switch 23, and asthe skip approaches bottom the cam 25 forces the lever 24 of the switchto close the latter with the effect that the switch 23 is in anelectrical circuit with the solenoid and the closing of the switchenergizes the solenoid with the eifect of opening the latch 14. Theweight of the gate 13 is so distributed that it will depart of itselffrom the closed position as soon as the pin 15 is released, and the gatewill therefore swing in a clockwise direction and partly enter the skip6- as shown in Figure 2.

WVith the gate open and in-con-necti-on with the skip, the loading ofthe latter ensues, the weight of the skip from its load causing it tosink toward the track 8 by reason of a flexible connection between theskip and its wheels 7 As shown, the skip rests on cantilevers 26 drawnby springs 27 and fulcru-ined in bearings 28- carried by skip plates-29.Thus, normally-the skip is maintained a high position relatiyetoitswheels, but when weighted it sinks toa limited extent.

The skip carries on the side a plate 37in which is pivoted; a projectinglever 38 which is. weighted below the pivot as indicated at 39 The skinalsohas a lugplatelO to limit 4 the lateral swing of the weight 39.andprevent thelever 38 from moving in a downward direction.

Thega-te. 13" has a roller-bearing lug 4]; in the path of the lever 38'as the skip ascends, the effect of the leveru-pon the lug 41. beingtodmpinge upon the same andtlius. swing the gate with a return motiontor purposes. of closing thechute a. The lever 38'and thelug 4=Iaresodisposed that the gate willbe swung slightly beyond its normalreturn; position before the lever 38 can clear-the lug' il on thefurther ascent of the skip. The extended travel of the gateisrepresented by the advance of the gate-pin deeply into the latch 14;after it has wiped: over the nose 14a of. the

latch. In doing this,the pinohas torced the latch out,'the latterimmediately returning to closed position once the pin. is within it;

The weight of the gate then slightly swings it; forward to locate thepin near the outlet of the latch.

Whenthe skip again descends,,the lever 38', simply trips under the lug41 of the gate as shown in Figure I, andthen assumesthe position of restindicated in Figure 2.

In assuming the open or skip loading position, the gate is relieved ofshock by being provided with a bumper pin 42 which strikes. an anglelever 43 backed by a cushion'spring 44 carried by the chute 5a. Thus,theswing of the gate to; open position. does not terminate with ashock.

It will be seen that the novel apparatus provides. a freely assembledcombination/ The opening of: the gate is accomplished freely by gravityas soon as the latch is opened; yet the gate is not made to open untilthe skip has descended to a receptive position. Since the gate followsthe skip in this respect, a slight deviation in the height of either thegate or skip will not produce any disorder or hardship; in other words,the gate connects with the skip by a free and following action.

In designing. the skip yieldable. to. load weight, I avoid actuating theswitch 23 and again opening the latch 14 on the up-trip of the skip,since the weighted skip spaces the ca1ny25 from. the lever 24;. oi theswitch, so that no eflfect. will be had on the switch or the latchcontrolled thereby. However, it isnot-nceessary to weight the skip forthe control ofthe latch; in fact, should the return trip of the camagain throw out the latch, no work or harm will be done, as the. camwill have; passed the switch by the time the gate has swung back to. aposition affected by the latch. Or,the circuitof the solenoid; could, bedesigned for theoperation of the switch only-on. the downv course of theskip, so that, the ascent of theski'pwillhave no eliect whatevenu'ponthe latch, I

In conclusion, it, may be said. that the novel apparatus embodiesamechanism Of few and simple parts. which are eta rugged. and de:-.pend'able nature. Theapparatus devoid of complicatedror, frail. partsand; its electrical units. for the circuits are of, simple anddependable design. 7

I claim: V 1. A skip loading apparatuscomprising a hopper. having anoutlet, a gateiior the lattertiltable from closed to open position, a.pro ectmn carried the. gate alatch adapted to receive the projection forretention: and

having clearancefor an. extended entry of,

the i proj.ection,. askip. positioned forinclined. travel'opposite thegate, an abutment carried by the latter, and: alever carried bythe skipand engageable on'theascent ot the, latter. when the gate is tilted to.restore-the sameto initial position, the lever clearing the abutment;when, the gate rises: beyond. the initial position by the operationQfiitS-PI-Or jection in the clearance oi the latch.

' 2 Askip loading apparatus comprising, a.

hopper having an outlet, a gate for the lattcntiltable from closed. toopenposition, a projection. carried by the gateg a, latch adapted toreceive the projection for retention;where-- by to lock thegate inclosed position, electroresponsive means in, proximity to the; latch,

a direct connection between-said means andthe latch whereby to releasethe;- latter when saidimeans is energized, a switchaenere gizing I said}means when theizskip. is. substantially at thebottomzofgits travel:

3; The structure ofictaim 2,saidtlatch being medially pivoted,.,ands'aidcmnection lead mg toth-at: end portion of the latch whichis Fopposite from the end designed to receive said projection.

4. The structure of claim 2, said connection being the armature of asolenoid.

5. The structure of claim 2, and yieldable means to move the latch intolocking position When said electro-responsive means is inactive.

6. The structure of claim 2, said latch being medially pivoted, and adraw-spring element leading to the projection-receiving portion of thelatch, said connection leading to the opposite end-portion of thelatter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HUBERT E. BAKER.

